Mark Keeley

Partner

"Frequently recommended as a mediator because he is practical, approachable and very client friendly. He also knows when to push and when to back off, and he is particularly good with vulnerable clients." (The Legal 500, 2019)

Mark heads our Private Litigation Team and he has over 20 years experience of dealing with contentious trust and probate disputes and professional negligence claims.

Mark is a longstanding member of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (“ACTAPS”) and sits as a Regional Member of the ACTAPS organising committee. Mark holds the STEP Advanced Certificate in Trusts Disputes.

He has extensive experience of successfully handling High Court, County Court and Tribunal litigation. A recognised leader in his area, Mark is a qualified mediator and he has a proven track record of resolving complex trust and probate disputes.

Mark is married with three children, he lives in Derbyshire and is a keen cricket and football fan.

Legal Services

Mark is ranked in the Legal 500 as a Leading Practitioner in Contentious Trust and Probate work and his team at Freeths have for the last 3 years been ranked as the number 1 team for Contentious Trusts and Probate work in the East Midlands.

His aim is to achieve the best result for the client at minimal cost and he has considerable experience of alternative dispute resolution, as an alternative to trial. Mark provides clear and concise advice to clients and he has been successful in recovering substantial damages for numerous clients.

Since qualifying as a commercial mediator in 2010, Mark has built a busy mediation practice and has mediated over 150 cases. His mediation practice centres on Contentious Probate and Trust dispute and he is ranked for his mediation work in Chambers.

Mark adopts a no nonsense down to business approach to mediation. He has genuine hands on experience of acting for parties in over 300 mediations spanning his 20 years in practice as a solicitor. He brings this practical experience to bear by controlling the mediation process and encouraging parties to adopt a common sense and practical attitude towards dispute resolution.

Mark is a qualified solicitor and Partner with Freeths LLP where he has practised since 1994. He heads up the Freeths’ Private Litigation Team and has experience of representing clients in a wide range of civil disputes. He is an enthusiastic advocate of the mediation process and has particular specialism in the fields of contentious probate and trust litigation and professional negligence claims. Mark is recommended in the 2016 edition Legal 500 and Chambers 2016 for his mediation work.

Cases

Mark successfully represented the claimant in the case of Walker v Walker [2007] EWHC 597 and has substantial experience of dealing with disputes from £10,000 up to £50,000,000.

Mark has successfully mediated cases in the following practice areas:

Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975

Probate claims (challenges to Wills)

Trust disputes

Trust of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996

Proprietary estoppel

Professional Negligence claims

Contract disputes

Boundary disputes

Licensing/regulatory matters

Fraud and restitutionary claims

Mark has received instructions to mediate cases from amongst others the following firms:

Mark is a member of the Association of Contentious Trusts and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS) and the Professional Negligence Lawyers Association (PNLA). He is also an affiliate member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).

He is a member of the ACTAPS organising committee and has also completed the ACTAPS Contentious Trusts and Probate Associate Membership Course that is operated in conjunction with the College of Law.

Mark is a Panel Member of the Association of Midlands Mediators and now sits on their organising committee as secretary.

“Well done Mark, a feather in your cap! You and your team have done us proud. This is only the beginning.”

“Mark Keeley ‘is one of the best litigators outside London, for sure,’ states a source. He leads the private litigation team and has extensive experience handling contentious trust and probate matters and professional negligence claims. He is also a qualified mediator. ‘Mark is one of the stars of this area of law,’ enthuses a commentator, adding: ‘He can swiftly see where the client needs to end up, and drawing on his long experience as a mediator as well as a litigator, is imaginative and creative in getting there.'”

“Top-class litigator and practice head Mark Keeley commands universal respect in this area.”

(Legal 500, 2019)

“We would like to thank you very much for all the help you have given us in the past months. If in the future we require any guidance, we know you would help us.”

Mark Keeley “is one of the best litigators outside London, for sure,” states a source. He leads the private litigation team and has extensive experience handling contentious trust and probate matters and professional negligence claims. He is also a qualified mediator. “Mark is one of the stars of this area of law,” enthuses a commentator, adding: “He can swiftly see where the client needs to end up, and drawing on his long experience as a mediator as well as a litigator, is imaginative and creative in getting there.”

(Chambers & Partners, 2019)

“Freeths is ‘a serious player’ and has ‘a good reputation in this area’. The practice recently acted on an intestate case, which included a farm worth £4m and held under the sole name of the deceased. Mark Keeley is ‘a sensible, safe pair of hands’.”

(The Legal 500, 2014)

“Freeths are the only firm ranked first in the Legal 500 East Midlands in the field of contentious trust and probate.”

(The Legal 500)

“Mark surpassed himself at the mediation and was absolutely outstanding in every regard. I am certain had it not been for Mark’s years of experience and expertise in will disputes that the mediation would not have settled. I cannot thank Mark enough for his perseverance and commitment to secure a settlement. Thank you, Mark. You really did go beyond the call of duty in staying until 2:00 am! We will definitely be using Mark again.”

“You really helped to crack it yesterday. I didn’t think it was possible in the build-up. Thank you for that.”

“Excellent! Mark did an extremely good job in a difficult case and was able to assist the parties in agreeing a settlement which appeared very unlikely at the beginning of the day. Mark had a very good manner with the clients and took plenty of time to explain things to them and make sure they fully understood the mediation process. I will definitely be instructing Mark again and would be very happy to recommend him to any of my colleagues.”

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Freeths LLP (registered in England and Wales OC304688) is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (number 384855). Our registered office is Cumberland Court, 80 Mount Street, Nottingham, NG1 6HH. The term ‘partner’ is used to refer to a member of the partnership or to an employee of equivalent standing and qualifications. Freeths LLP provides its services subject to its Terms of Business (a hard copy of which is available on request). Any complaints should be addressed through the procedure outlined here.